Enjoying the Park Responsibly

The Cairngorms National Park is a very special place so you can help look after the Park by ‘treading lightly’ when you’re out and about enjoying the outdoors.

When you are in the outdoor, always remember to:

· Take responsibility for your own actions;

· Respect the interests of other people;

· Care for the environment.

To ‘treading lightly’ when you’re out and about enjoying the outdoors. Follow these top tips and handy hints:

Camping and litter

Pitch your tent well away from cars, roads or buildings. Keep the numbers of your group small. Move on after a couple of nights. Remove traces of your tent pitch and any other litter. Carry out what you carry in.

Outdoor Cooking

Use a stove rather than an open fire. Place foil barbeque trays on a solid, fire resistant surface such as stones, sand or shingle.

Fires

Never light a fire during prolonged dry periods or in woodlands or on peaty soils. Never cut down or damage trees. Keep fires small, under control and supervised at all times. Ensure a fire is completely out and remove all traces of it.

Toilets

Use a public toilet if there is one. If not, dig a hole and bury waste well away from buildings or well-used areas. Urinate at least 30 paces from lochs, rivers and streams.

Dogs

From April to August, keep your dog on a short lead or close to heel in areas of ground nesting birds. Avoid fields with livestock – particularly young animals. Clean up after your dog. Put any waste in a bin, or take it away. In more remote areas, remove it off the path.